Bills’ offensive line forced to use backup plan Sunday

Aldon Smith (left) and Justin Smith will take turns lining up against Bills backup left tackle Chris Hairston on Sunday. (AP)

The Bills’ beleaguered defense wasn’t the only area of the team hurting after last week’s 52-28 loss to the Patriots.

So was their offensive line.

Buffalo’s rookie left tackle Cordy Glenn, a second-round pick, and right guard Kraig Urbik didn’t finish the game due to ankle injuries and they won’t play Sunday against the 49ers. In their place, Buffalo will trot out Chris Hairston at left tackle and Chad Rinehart at right guard.

Who?

Don’t start salivating too much. They are backups this season, but Sunday won’t mark their first rodeo.

Hairston, who will square off against defensive tackle Justin Smith and outside linebacker Aldon Smith (fun!), was a fourth-round pick in last year’s draft who started seven games and played 472 snaps as a rookie.

“I just have to come in and keep the continuity of the line going,” Hairston told the Buffalo media. “It happens every year in this league, guys get hurt and you have to step in and help the team win. I just hope I can do as good a job as Cordy’s been doing, and I think I will.”

Similarly, Rinehart, 27, started 12 games for the Bills last season and has 19 starts in his five-year career.

In 154 combined snaps this season, Hairston and Rinehart haven’t allowed a sack or quarterback hit, according to Pro Football Focus.